Reading and writing my way through life.

Archive for the ‘And More’ Category

England is a fantastic place to see castles and gardens. While in Britain, one of the places we visited was Sudeley Castle and Gardens. It wasn’t over run with tourists and we had a leisurely visit through the castle, chapel, and grounds. I was introduced to knot gardens, there was a kitchen garden full of herbs and spices, as well as the more formal gardens.

Moon gardens have been around for a long time, but only recently have recaptured the attention of gardeners. This garden is special in that it generally only has white flowers and tree blooms. The idea being, that under the moon it will reflect light looking romantic and mysterious.

It is best to create a small to mid-size moon garden as it can be visually overwhelming. Plant a variety of white flowering plants that come into bloom at various times of the year and keep in mind plants that will give off a scent in the evening. It is appropriate to put in silvery leaved plants and some contrasting green foliage.

Make sure to put the garden where it can get full moon light, or put in some low lighting. Add a special place to sit and you are ready to enjoy this very unusual and special garden.

Monet’s Garden is one of the most famous places in the world. I visited his home and gardens in Giverny, France in early October. Not the optimum time to see this garden, but better than never. I spent several hours walking the paths and looking inside his home and work space.

The home and gardens were in terrible shape after WWII. No one had kept them up and time had taken its toll. They have since been restored to their former beauty.

His home was intriguing to me because of the use of color. All the shades were selected by Monet himself. From the beautiful blue kitchen to the yellow dining room, where so many people came to eat and drink with him, it was stunning.

The gardens were wonderful even in fall. It was so much fun to walk through the spaces I’d seen paintings, or pictures of. It’s a magical place.

Monet, his garden, and home have influenced not only gardeners and artists, but also writers. Many books have been inspired by this enchanting place. So think of places that have caught your interest, or captivated you. Try setting a story there, or including it as part of your story. It might just be your inspiration.

Woman in the Rain

I am an avid reader and writer. My blog focus is stories, so I'll be discussing books I've read, movies I've watched, as well as various writing topics. Under the More section are a few other subjects that interest me, like gardens and traveling.